Azerbaijan detains journalists linked to Russian media amid escalating tensions

In Baku, Azerbaijan, tensions between the country and Russia have escalated, particularly following the deaths of two ethnic Azerbaijanis during a police operation in Yekaterinburg last week. Two brothers, Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, died in custody during a raid that also left several others injured and led to nine detentions. Authorities in Azerbaijan condemned the actions of Russian law enforcement, describing them as enforcement of extrajudicial violence against Azerbaijanis. In response to the situation, Azerbaijan's government canceled a scheduled visit to Moscow by its officials, highlighting growing dissatisfaction with Russian policies. Following the police operation, on Monday, Azerbaijani authorities conducted a raid on Sputnik Azerbaijan, a Kremlin-funded media outlet, resulting in the detention of seven individuals, including its editor-in-chief Yevgeny Belousov and editorial board director Igor Kartavykh. These individuals are being investigated for fraud and illegal activities, including allegations of conspiracy to commit fraud—charges that carry significant prison sentences, should they be convicted. The Kremlin, through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, expressed regret at the detentions of the journalists and called for their immediate release, asserting such actions are inconsistent with the spirit of Russian-Azerbaijani relations. The background to these recent events includes Azerbaijan's growing dissatisfaction with Russia, stemming from incidents over the past several months, including the shooting down of an Azerbaijani passenger jet near Chechnya in December 2024, which resulted in a tragic loss of lives. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of attempting to cover up the incident and has further distanced Baku from Moscow by declining invitations to significant events like Russia's Victory Day parade. The current tensions illustrate how Azerbaijan is recalibrating its foreign policy stance, especially as it appears to be seeking closer ties with Ukraine amid ongoing conflicts. As the situation develops, Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General's Office plans to investigate the deaths of the Safarov brothers, attributing their deaths to physical abuse sustained while in custody. The investigation highlights ongoing allegations of violence directed towards Azerbaijanis by Russian officials, further straining relations between Baku and Moscow. This confrontation serves as a reminder of the complex historical and political dynamics in the region as Azerbaijan navigates its relationship with Russia while managing internal and external pressures.